Exploratory political studies can advance understanding of politics by prioritizing drawing meaning from data rather than theory development, causal inference, or practical solutions. The document discusses how conventional empirical approaches focus on positivism, scientific realism, and pragmatism, but exploratory studies aim to represent meaning by mining data in novel ways that could reveal new insights not found using traditional methods.

1. How Exploratory Political Studies Advance
Our Understanding about Politics?
Institute of Political Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University
MPSA Annual Meeting, April 6-9, 2017
Cheng-shan (Frank) LIU

2.  What do empirical study scholars pursue in their
research?
 Positivists: theory development (causal inference)
 Scientific Realists: mechanism
 Pragmatists: solutions for solving practical problems
 Interpretivists: representation of meaning

3. MEANING
What if we prioritize drawing
meaning from data as our
purpose of research?

13. 4
1 2 3
5

14. It is almost impossible to see this using conventional approach.

17. TSCS2013

19. DATA MINING
MEANING
MINING.